Kevin Durant’s stellar play could not overcome Warriors’ rebounding, fouling issue in loss to Portland

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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard hits a 3-point shot over Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant drives to the basket on Portland Trail Blazers forward Evan Turner during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant hits a shot over Portland Trail Blazers forward Evan Turner during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. The Blazers won 125-108. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, rear, loses control of the ball as he drives to the basket on Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green dunks against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson drives to the basket on Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant reacts after hitting a shot to give the Golden State Warriors a lead during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. The Blazers won 125-108. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant reacts to being called for a foul late in the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. The Blazers won 125-108.(AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard looks over at the Golden State Warriors bench after hitting a 3-point shot late in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. The Blazers won 125-108. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant is fouled by Portland Trail Blazers forward Ed Davis during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. The Blazers won 125-108. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Portland Trail Blazers guards CJ McCollum, left, and Damian Lillard react after McCollum hit a 3-point shot during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. The Blazers won 125-108. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr yells to his team during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 9, 2018. The Blazers won 125-108. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Durant pulled up along the baseline. He tossed shots up from 3-point range. He drove to the basket. Most of the time, Durant scored.

That was still not enough. The Warriors lost to the Trail Blazers, 125-108, on Friday despite Durant posting 40 points on 12-of-21 shooting in a performance that offered various big-picture implications.

The Warriors (51-15) snapped their seven-game winning streak, while Portland (40-26) extended a nine-game winning streak and its 15th win in the past 16 home games. The Warriors squandered an opportunity to make up ground in the Western Conference standings after the Houston Rockets (51-14) loss to the Toronto Raptors (48-17) on Friday to end a 17-game winning streak. And the Warriors had first-hand experience that overcoming Stephen Curry’s absence from a tweaked right ankle goes beyond relying on Durant’s heroics.

Incidentally, the Warriors also lost to Portland last month despite Durant scoring 50 points. That time, the Warriors had a full roster.

“You look at it with a wide scope. We could’ve done a lot of things better,” Durant said. “We had some good looks. We didn’t rebound or finish the quarters well. All that happens in a basketball game and all that happens throughout he season with ups and downs. You’ll get better from it.”

The Warriors simply lacked in other departments.

Like with most teams, the Warriors had no answer for Portland’s backcourt in CJ McCollum (30 points) and Damian Lillard (28 points). Lillard offered a dagger with a 25-foot 3-pointer that gave the Blazers a 115-103 lead with 2:40 remaining.

The Warriors did not compensate in the hustle categories, including rebounding (46-33) and second-chance points allowed (26). Portland shot 16-of-39 from the perimeter, while the Warriors often ended those makes by committing one of their 20 fouls. Warriors coach Steve Kerr noted “the fouling bothered me the most” considering his players committed seven of those in the final quarter.

“I really liked our fight and competitive spirit. But we have to be smarter,” Kerr said. “We did not play a smart and focused game tonight. It cost us.”

Besides Durant, Klay Thompson (25 points) and JaVale McGee (10 points), the Warriors did not have enough offensive punch. The Warriors bench combined for only 18 points, while Portland had 47.

In the meantime, Durant tried to help the Warriors offset those issues with his play. He scored 13 points in the third quarter. He sank a 3-pointer that gave the Warriors a 75-73 lead with 4:33 left, the team’s first lead since being up 10-8 with 9:19 remaining in the first quarter. And Durant and Green increasingly assumed ball-handling duties.

“The shots will be less when Steph is there because he’s obviously one of the best shooters of all time,” Thompson said. “But Kevin plays the same way all the time. It doesn’t matter if it’s preseason or the Finals. He’s going to crush you and put on a show.”

Durant’s performance also involved some extra fireworks.

With 1:33 left in the second quarter, officials ejected a courtside fan for what officials told Kerr to be “inappropriate language.” Durant flashed the fan a peace sign and blew him a kiss as officials escorted the fan out of the arena. Afterwards, Durant lamented that “when you’re sitting courtside, you feel like you can say or do whatever.”

“Sometimes just shut up and watch the game. You have nothing to do with what’s going on out there on the floor,” Durant said. “You’re not important. He’s a fan at the game. Watch the game and enjoy it. I don’t know why these fans want to get involved when they’re sitting courtside. Just enjoy the game. Glad the ref got his [expletive].”

The referees also whistled Green for his 15th technical of the season seconds later for arguing a foul call. One more, and Green will have a one-game suspension without any pay.

Green was mostly concerned, though, with the Warriors’ defense on Lillard and McCollum. They explain why Green views Trail Blazersas a bigger threat than when the Warriors swept them last year in the first round of the playoffs.

“We have to understand that once they give up the ball, that’s when the work starts. That’s something we’ll learn from,” Green said. “They’re always a threat. They got two of the best guards in the league. When you got two players like they got, they’re always a threat.”

The Warriors arguably would have been a bigger threat with a healthier roster.

Kerr said that Curry texted him on Friday that he “had a good day of rehab” in Oakland. The Warriors added Curry did not show any additional swelling in his right ankle.
Kerr does not project absences to Iguodala and West to last long. While Iguodala completed a pre-game shooting workout, West lifted weights. The injury, though, to Iguodala seems clearer. As Kerr said, “I don’t expect him to be out too much longer.”

As for West, Kerr described his injury as “kind of a strange deal” and declined to offer specifics as West plans to seek more medical opinions.

“Nothing I ever heard of before, but I don’t anticipate it’ll be anything too serious,” Kerr said. “But I also can’t tell you exactly when he’s going to come back.”

Both West and Iguodala could return as early as Sunday against Minnesota. Meanwhile, Curry, Bell and McCaw stayed in Oakland with Warriors trainer Chelsea Lane for their respective rehab work. The Warriors plan to reevaluate both Curry and Bell on Tuesday in hopes for them to return on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. McCaw will also be reevaluated to see if he can begin practicing without any brace on his left wrist.

“We miss all of our guys as far as minutes and as far as what they bring to this team,” Green said. “But most importantly we need them to get healthy when they’re healthy. But we’re right here waiting. Until then, we have to try to win some games. I have no doubt in my mind that we will.”

To do that, the Warriors pledge to fix their rebounding and fouling issues. After all, even Durant’s stellar play could not offset those issues.